The Weekend Flashback: The S.S. Eastland Disaster

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 24, 2011 6:00PM

One of the worst accidents ever to happen in the city's history occurred on this date 96 years ago when the S.S. Eastland keeled over on its side while tied to a dock alongside the Chicago River (midway between Marina Towers and the Merchandise Mart today). 844 people lost their lives in the 20-feet deep waters.

The Eastland was a troubled ship almost from the moment of her May 1903 christening. the ship listed seriously enough to allow water into its gangways and a July 1903 accident with the tugboat George W. Gardner led to the firing of its first captain.

Yard and dry dock sessions to make the ship faster and keep it from tearing up the New Haven, MI shoreline further exacerbated the Eastland's issues with balance. A 1904 sightseeing cruise in which the ship listed far to port, then to starboard, led to further modifications and a reduced passenger load to try and correct the problems.

The modifications never worked and the St. Joseph-Chicago Steamship Company never looked into the Eastland's history when it bought the ship in June 1914. The Titanic disaster spurred passage of the LaFollette's Seaman's Act requiring life racks and life boats on the top racks of ships. The requirement also made the Eastland top heavy. On its first occasion to ferry Western Electric employees to Michigan City, IN for a company picnic, the Eastland keeled over at the dock.